Food and Nutrition
Helvetas works to ensure that disadvantaged women, men and children have access to affordable, nutritious and healthy food. We contribute to increased food and nutrition security within poor communities through improved access to balanced diets.
Fighting hunger through food and nutrition security
Hunger and malnutrition are a daily reality for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people, leaving them at risk to serious health issues and impaired cognitive development in the case of children. The problem has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 crisis, ongoing conflicts, and growing inequality. Worldwide, more than 800 million children, women and men are hungry and 3 billion are unable to afford a healthy and sustainable diet. At the same time, more than 1.9 billion people are overweight.
Feeding a growing world population, which is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, requires global coordination and action. The foundation of our food systems is threatened by the effects of climate change, deteriorating natural resources, inappropriate farming techniques and an aging rural labor force. Helvetas promotes smart innovations that address such challenges – such as systems for rapid digital sharing of information amongst farmers, energy-efficient solar drying technologies, better post-harvest crop management, and the integration of nutritional messages into adult literacy training. All these contribute to keeping sustainable food production and consumption in balance.
United Nations Development Program
Our work
Helvetas works to ensure disadvantaged groups have sustainable and equitable access to natural resources, technical and financial services, and markets. We build partnerships among public, private and civil society actors to create functioning and efficient food systems. These partners advance sustainable agriculture practices, including in fragile contexts, and work alongside Helvetas to advocate for policies that increase the availability of affordable, nutritious and healthy food.
Our Expertise and Services
Our multilingual advisory team offers wide-ranging thematic expertise and has in-depth experience in navigating complex processes. Helvetas’ work builds on over 60 years of experience in more than 30 countries.
How Can We Strengthen Food Systems in a Growing World?
